BY NESTOR CUARTERO
JUST A THOUGHT: “The less you reveal, the more people can wonder.” – Emma Watson
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FESTIVAL OF SHORTS: Over 150 days of quarantine have seen a harvest of 19 new short films on varied subjects as created by 21 fresh filmmakers.
They form part of the first “VHF: Video Home Festival,” a project of entrepreneur-film producer Dr. Carl Balita in cooperation with Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc.
Balita launched the Video Home Festival in March as a short-film making competition anchored on the theme “Lockdown.”
The filmmakers were asked to put on film their quarantine experience, working around parameters as social distancing, limited technology and space.
The festival, he says, aims to raise funds for Mowelfund, whose members have been displaced by COVID-19.
Festival director Jek David says the films’ running time range from 5 to 15 minutes. Put together, they cover all of 3 hours.
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VHF: Video Film Festival will be screened through Binge Wave, an international festival screening platform based in the USA, on Sept. 3-4, 2020. The Awards Night will be held virtually on Sept. 15.
The jury is composed of Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, Mowelfund President Rez Cortez, director Jay Altarejos, actress Angeli Bayani, and film critic Oggs Cruz.
Some of the films are: “Tayo:” Two men in a relationship move forward, directed by Armyr Encarnacion.
“Dead Cough:” A young girl meets tragedy after disobeying quarantine protocol, by Bleaux Bastasa.
“3 AM:” Looks at an urban legend that occurs at 3 a.m., by Jei Del Rosario.
“Salmo ’91:” A man finds the meaning of life during the pandemic, by Jerico Ellorenco.
“Witness:” An isolated man turns anxious after witnessing a murder, by Juan Carlos Ojano.
“Love Letter:” A heart break happens during quarantine, by Juan Carlo Tarobal.
